Make-and-break device for electric circuits.



J. T. BOYLE. MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICAI'ION FILED DEC. 2,1913.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEEF l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. T. BOYLE.

MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-2,1913.

1,165,312. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

. lwuewtoa k J TfiayZa. wuucrmo L I. T. BOYLE.

MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, I913.

Patented De0.21,1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

J. T. BOYLE.

MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1913.

1 1 65, 3 1 2. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. BOYLE, 0F MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS.

MAKE-AND-BREAK DEVICE FOR- ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Application filed December 2, 1913.

'1 b all a how it Hwy concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. BOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Jefferson and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Make-and-Break Devices for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in make and break devices for electric circuits and has particular application to a. device for making and breaking the circuit of an electric sign or like device whereby the lamps constituting such sign will be alternately illuminated and extinguished.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a device of the class described which will be found especially useful in conjunction with signs embodying a number of sets or banks of lamps or other ornaments and whereby the banks of lamps of the sign will be alternately illuminated and extinguished successively so that when one bank is illuminated the remaining bank or banks as the case may be will be extinguished.

It is also my purpose to provide a make and break device for electric circuits which will be entirely automatic in operation and whereby the flashing of the lamps or other devices will be carried on for a predetermined time, and the circuit broken after such interval of time has passed.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a make and break device constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. is a View in elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view there-through, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 4; is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the circuit interrupting device. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the operating mechanism for the main switch. Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the latching device for the main switch. Fig. 9 is. a plan view of the disk of the circuit interrupting device. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Serial No. 804,305.

10 is an end elevation thereof, parts being broken away. Figs. 11 and 12 are bottom and top plan views respectively of the plate carrying the contacts and binding posts of the circuit interrupter. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, A designates the supporting frame of the device, such frame comprising a base 1 composed of suitable insulating material and a plate 2 of insulating material surmounting the base 1 and held above the same by means of posts 3 uprising from the base and connected to the plate. A vertical main shaft 1 is arranged approximately centrally of the supporting frame and journaled in alining bearings carried by the base 1 and the plate 2.

. The interrupter for the electric circuit comprises a disk 5 of insulating material fast upon the upper end of the main shaft 4 and having embedded in the lower face thereof a metallic distributer comprising an annular conducting ring 6 arranged concentrically of the axis of the disk, and a segment 7 disposed concentrically of the ring 6 and electrically connected thereto. present instance, the ring 6 and segment 7 are formed integral with each other and the peripheral edge of the segment forms in effect a portion of the periphery of the disk. Seated within recesses in the upper surface of the plate 2, as shown in Fig. 6 are socket members 8 spaced equal distances from the shaft 4 and from each other about such shaft and mounted within each socket member is a shank 9 having the upper end thereof forked or bifurcated as at 10. Rotatably mounted within the forked end 10 of each shank 9 is a contact roller 11, while interposed between the lower wall of each socket member and the bottom of the shank thereof is a coiled expansion spring 12 acting to hold the contact rollers elevated and in frictional engagement with the under surface of the disk 5. These contact rollers, owing to the positions of the sockets with respect to the axis of the disk, bear against the under face of the disk adjacent to the periphery thereof so that as the disk revolves the conducting segment 7 rides into and out of engagement with the rollers successively. Formed in the upper surface of the plate 2 inwardly of the recesses carrying the socket members In the S. as illrstratcd in Fig. 2 are recesses in which are seated socket members and within toe socket members are disposed contact elements 16 similar in construction to those just described and shown in Fig. 6. The

contact rollers of said elements engage the conducting ring (5.

Suitably fastened to the under surface of the plate 2 and depending therefrom is a bus bar 19 shown in 2 and 11 electrically connected with the lower end of the contact elements 16 as at 1'? in Fig. 11. Secured to the upper surface of the plate 2 are binding posts 20 corresponding in number with the contact rollers and each disposed adjacent to one of the contact rollers and electrically connected therewith. This circuit interrupter is connected in series with the lighting circuit, the bus bar 19 being connected with one side of the source of energy, while the binding posts 20 are connected with the various banks of lamps to be illuminated. By means of this construction, it will be seen that the contact elements 16 are continuously in engagement with the conducting ring 6, while the segment 7 engages and disengages the contact rollers 11 successively or one after the other, thereby making and breaking the circuit to the banks of lamps as shown in Fig. 13. in order to prevent arcing when the rear end of the conducting segment 7 disengages the contact rollers, l pivotally connect to the rear end of the segment a metallic section 21 normally held at an angle to the segment by spring pressure and adapted to straighten out when engaged by a contact roller and subsequently leave such roller with a snap action thereby preventing sparking in the breaking of the circuit. In the present instance, this metallic section has a rounded edge 22 set into a concavity formed in the rear end of the conducting segment 7, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, while a lug 24 is secured to the outer edge of the segment and formed vith an aperture alining with a passage in the section and an aperture in the adjacent portion of the conducting ring 6, a pivot pin 25 being passed through the alining apertures and passages. Interposed between the upper surface of the lug 2st and the adjacent portion of the plate 2 is a leaf spring 26 acting upon the section 21 to hold the latter in normal position and restore the same to such position with a snap action subsequent to the sect-ion leaving a contact roller.

Mounted upon the base 1 in proximity to the vertical main shaft 4- is an electric motor 27 geared up to the main shaft through the medium of a system of step down gearing 28 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. In the present instance, this gear system comprises a. worm 29 fixed upon the motor shaft and meshing with a worm Wheel 80 carried upon a horizontal shaft journaled in alining bearings 31 carried by the base 1. Surrounding the shaft of the wheel 30 and fixed to the latter is a worm 32 meshing with a self-oiling worm wheel 33 keyed upon the shaft 4L. By means of this construction, it will be seen that in the operation of the motor rotary motion will be transmitted to the main shaft l thereby revolving the disk 5 of the circuit interrupter, the speed of the main shaft being less than that of the motor shaft incident to the step down gear system connecting the same.

The motor 27 is connected in parallel with the lighting circuit or located in any other circuit and connected in the motor circuit is a controlling switch 34L, shown in Fig. l: and composed, in the present instance, of a cop per brush 35 and a copper arm 36 pivoted at one end within a bracket 37 and having the opposite end equipped with a. yoke 38 carrying acarbon block 39 adapted, when the arm is swung in one direction, to engage the brush 35 and so close the motor circuit and when operated in the reverse direction to disengage the copper brush and break the motor circuit. i-i. leaf spring d0 has one end fixed to the bracket 37 and the opposite end working within a slot formed in the bottom wall of the block 89, such spring acting to hold the arm 36 normally in circuit opening position.

Located in proximity to the switch 34: is an operating device therefor comprising a solenoid 4-1 having a core t2 therein connected with a horizontal stem l?) mounted for sliding movement within alining bearings at and provided with a laterally projecting finger 45 having the outer end thereof in engagement with the arm 36 carrying the carbon block 39 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 By means of this construction, it will be seen that when the solenoid is energized the core therein will be actuated to slide the stem as whereby the finger :5 will throw the arm 36 to enthe carbon block 89 with the copper brush and so close the motor circuit.

Succeeding the closing of the switch 3% as just described the stem and core of the solenoid are latched against movement to normal position under the action of the leaf spring 40, such latching device, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 7 and 8 comprising a finger 4:6 secured to the outer end of the stem 43 at right angles thereto and provided with a right angularly arranged extension 43 of a length equal to the path of movement of the stem and lying parallel with the latter, and a trigger t? pivoted adjacent to one end upon a support 1 8 carried by the outer bearing of the stem 4-3, a. contractile spring 49 having one end secured to the support 48 and the opposite end to the adjacent eX- tremity of the trigger e7 and acting nor mally to throw the trigger in the path of movement of the extension on the finger 46. Thus, the trigger 47 will enter the path of movement of the extension $3 on the finger 46 succeeding the closing of the switch 34 thereby holding the stem against movement to normal position preventing the opening of the switch subsequent to the deenergization of the solenoid. This solenoid may be connected in multiple with the lighting circuit or connected in any other circuit and is preferably controlled by a manually operable switch.

In order that the switch 3% will be opened at a predetermined time so that the motor will be deenergized and the device thrown out of action, I employ a controlling device operable from the motor and connected thereto through the medium of a system of step down gearing so that after the expiration of a certain interval of time the latching device of the stem 43 will be released and the latter restored to normal position under the action of the spring 40. Ihis controlling device, illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, comprises a disk 50 journaled upon a shaft 51 carried by a standard 52 uprising from the base 1. In the present instance, the step down gear system between the motor and the disk 50 comprises a worm 53 fixed to the main shaft 4t below the worm wheel thereon and meshing with a worm wheel 54: fast upon a shaft 55 journaled in horizontally alining bearings carried by the base. Keyed to the shaft 55 is a worm 5t) meshing with a worm wheel 57 fast upon one end of a shaft 58 journaled in a bearing and arranged at right angles to the shaft 55. Upon the opopsite end of the shaft 58 is a pinion 60 meshing with a gear wheel 61 fast upon the inner face of the disk 50 on the shaft 51. Secured to the outer face of the disk 50 and extending radially thereof and spaced apart equal distances are arms 62 having the outer ends thereof beyond the periphery of the disk bent upon themselves as at 63 and adapted to engage the trigger l7 to actuate the latter against the action of the spring 49 whereby the switch 34 will be opened. In the present instance. I have shown three arms 62 on the outer surface of the disk 00 and with this construction the trigger will be actuated to released position five hours and twenty minutes after the closing of the motor circuit. However. the number of arms on the outer face of the controller disk may be varied so that the interval of time elapsing between the closing and opening of. the main switch may be changed. In the present instance, the step down gear system between the motor and the controller disk is such that the controller disk makes one complete revolution every sixteen hours and should the disk be equipped with one arm only the make and break device will operate continuously for sixteen hours. Onthe other hand, should the outer face of the disk be equipped with two arms 62 disposed diametrically opposite each other the main motor switch would be opened after the expiration of eight hours. \Vhen three arms are used the switch is opened after five hours and twenty minutes have elapsed, as before stated, while when four arms are employed the main switch is opened after the expiration of four hours, and so on, the time between the closing and opening of the switch being reduced inversely as the number of arms on the outer surface of the controller disk is increased.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seen that I have provided a make and break device for electric circuits which is especially useful in conjunction with electric signs and analogous apparatus and whereby the banks of lamps or other ornaments may be alternately illuminated and extinguished and cut out of the circuit after the expiration of a certain period of time.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by Way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A make and break device for electric circuits comprising an interrupter, a motor for operating said interrupter, a circuit for said motor, a switch controlling said circuit, a stem connected to said switch, means for actuating said stem to close said switch, a latching device for maintaining said switch in closed position and comprising a finger secured to one end of said stem and having one extremity 'bent at right angles to itself and of a length equal to the path of movement of the stem, and a spring actuated trigger normally in engagement with the bent portion of said finger and adapted to enter the path of movement of the bent portion of the finger in the movement of the finger by the stem in the closing of the switch.

2. A make and break device for electric circuits comprising an interrupter, a motor for operating said interrupter, a circuit for said motor, a switch controlling said circuit, means for actuating said switch to closed position, a latching device for holding said switch in closed position, means for actuating said latching device to release the switch succeeding the operation of the circuit in- In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two wltnesses.

JOHN T. BOYLE.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE F. LONGAN, GEORGE S. OARNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

